Applicants sought for road work training program

Now the Kalamazoo woman, who said she has always been a bit of a tomboy, hopes to get a new one in road construction.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION TRAINING PROGRAM MEETING

WHAT: Road Construction Apprenticeship Readiness training program informational meeting.WHEN: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.WHERE: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 936 Lake St.MORE INFO: The Road Construction Apprenticeship Readiness program aims to train women, minorities and people with low incomes for jobs in the road construction industry. To apply, people must: • Be committed to a career in road construction.• Be 18 years of age or older.• Have a GED or high school diploma and valid driver’s license.• Pass a drug test, physical exam and entrance exams in math, reading and the use of charts and graphs.

McDuel was one of about 20 people who attended a Road Construction Apprenticeship Readiness Program meeting Friday morning at First Baptist Church. The program, funded by federal highway dollars, aims to funnel more women, minorities and people with low incomes into road construction fields.

“I love the initiative that they’re trying to get to women, minorities and low-income people,” McDuel said. “They’re the ones that really need it.”

The meeting provided information on how to apply for the program and what would be expected. Another session is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, at 936 Lake St.

Fifteen people will be selected through a series of tests and interviews for the nine-week training session starting in January in Kalamazoo. Seven other training sessions will take place around the state.

During the math-intensive program, trainees learn the basics of construction and welding, job-readiness skills and workplace safety. They are paid $10 an hour for time spent in class.

Ronda Poth, of Hastings, graduated from the first round of training programs in May 2007 and found work the next month. She now works at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman. She told the group on Thursday that she did not think she could get a job in construction but now she’s “making the man’s money.”

The training program, in its third year, has been successful in placing graduates in jobs, said Kathy Olsen, director of marketing, community relations and events for MichiganWorks! in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties. MichiganWorks! assists the state with the program.